Question:
Can modifier 33 be used for laboratory claims?
Answer:
Modifier 33 communicates to a payer that the service or test being billed is preventive under pertinent laws and indicates that patient cost-sharing is not applicable. Documents issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) do not reference this modifier as applicable for laboratory testing billed to the Medicare program, so, for now, limit its use to the specific instruction of the commercial and private payers.